High Enough

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"High Enough"
US commercial cassette single
Single by Damn Yankees
from the album Damn Yankees
B-side"Piledriver"
ReleasedSeptember 22, 1990
GenreGlam metal[1]
Length
  • 4:43 (album version)
  • 4:17 (single version)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades, Ted Nugent
Producer(s)Ron Nevison, Tommy Shephard
Damn Yankees singles chronology
"Coming of Age"
(1990) 		"High Enough"
(1990) 		"Come Again"
(1991)

"High Enough" is a song by American supergroup Damn Yankees from their self-titled debut album. A power ballad, it is their most successful single in terms of chart position and sales, rising to No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the group's first (and only) top-ten pop single. It also reached No. 2 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The success of "High Enough" helped send its parent album into the top 20 on the US albums chart.

Background[edit]

According to songwriter and co-lead vocalist Jack Blades:

'High Enough' was about how you love someone so much and you just don't want to scare them away. And it's like, do I take the next step? And then she freaks out when you go, 'I love you.' And it's like, 'What!?!? I'm outta here!' And you're, 'Wait a minute! Come back!' But then the girl comes back, because in the bridge it's, (singing) 'The next thing I remember I was running back for more.' You know how you get scared at first when you fall in love, and everybody freaks out, and that can't be right. And then you go, Wait a minute, this is great, let's forget about the past. Can you fly me over yesterday? Can you take me high enough to fly me over yesterday?[2]

Music video[edit]

The music video was filmed on location in River Ridge, Louisiana, and depicts a young drifter and his girlfriend who commit a series of robberies. However, their last one appears to have far more serious consequences as they become the targets of a manhunt by the local police. It is implied, but not specifically shown, that the drifter may have committed murder. The girlfriend is captured, but the drifter escapes and is cornered in his home by the police, who shoot the house full of bullets. The police invade the house, but the drifter's fate is unclear (possibly died during the gunfire). The girlfriend is given the death penalty and at the video's slowing end is being read her last rites by a priest while she is being led out of her cell to the execution chamber. As the video ends, the priest is revealed to be the perpetually-gum-chewing Ted Nugent.

Track listings[edit]

7-inch and cassette single[3][4]

  1. "High Enough" (single version) – 4:17
  2. "Piledriver" (album version) – 4:18

12-inch and CD single[5][6]

  1. "High Enough" (LP version) – 4:43
  2. "Piledriver" (LP version) – 4:18
  3. "Bonestripper" – 4:22

Personnel[edit]

Damn Yankees

  • Tommy Shaw: lead and backing vocals, acoustic and rhythm guitar
  • Ted Nugent: lead guitar, backing and harmony vocals
  • Jack Blades: lead and backing vocals, bass
  • Michael Cartellone: drums, percussion

Additional personnel

  • Alan Pasqua: Keyboards
  • Jimmie Haskell: string arrangements
  • Neverleave Brothers: backing vocals

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Best 20 Hair Metal Ballads of the '80s and '90s". LiveAbout. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  2. ^ "High Enough Song Facts". Songfacts. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  3. ^ High Enough (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Damn Yankees. Warner Bros. Records. 1990. 7-19595.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ High Enough (US cassette single cassette notes). Damn Yankees. Warner Bros. Records. 1990. 4-19595.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ High Enough (German 12-inch single sleeve). Damn Yankees. Warner Bros. Records. 1990. W 006 T.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ High Enough (European CD single liner notes). Damn Yankees. Warner Bros. Records. 1990. W 006 CD, 7599-21839-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1417." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  9. ^ "Damn Yankees – High Enough". Top 40 Singles.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  11. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. January 12, 1991. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  12. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. October 27, 1990. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  13. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1991". Archived from the original on July 7, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  14. ^ "American single certifications – Damn Yankees – High Enough". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
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